Here’s a small sample from the Trilby, the baby alligator, mini-comic book that will be available next week at THE GENERAL STORE (May 6th) and Coliseum of Comics (May 7th) in Lakeland, Florida, for Free Comic Book Day.

I thought I’d share the cover art of the first Swampy’s Florida mini-comic book available next week for Free Comic Book Day in Lakeland.

I got to experience the one place I hadn’t been to that I had put in the Swampy’s Florida: Lakeland coloring book, Circle B Bar Reserve, because of my good friend Terisa Glover, who lead the way through this glorious expanse of natural Florida. And whatta a place! Seems to me to be one of the best natural areas in Central Florida. Adjectives are not plentiful enough to use. I drew only one sketch, not even complete the whole time I was there and it is above.

There are a plethora of birds. Above is a great blue heron.

Making up a great part of the trails are lined with cypress along Lake Hancock. Besides birds are many, many alligators. There is a gator in this photo. Way out in the lake and hardly visible. That is the extent of the kinds of photos I got of the gators without a high powered zoom lens. But they are there. Plenty of them.

Here’s Terisa on a typical example of a trail through the reserve.It’s dueling cameras as Terisa also takes a shot.

These fellows are there, too.

Nice, isn’t it?

He crossed the path while rodent hunting.

This large soft shell took the path of least resistance seconds after this photo by moving to the left and sliding down the bank and Plop! into the stream along the trail.

Was doin’ the caricature thing tonight in Orlando at the Orange County Regional History Center.

Me and Swampy’s Florida will be in Dade City, Florida, drawing folks during the opening of my friend and fellow artist, Keith Martin John’s new art show, “Preserving Paradise” at the Uptown Gallery from 6pm to 9pm. If you’re in the area, come by and say Hello and take a look at Keith’s fantastic paintings depicting Florida’s heritage.

This will also be my first event as a Swampy’s Florida event. So I’ll be drawing the caricature thing with a Florida theme… and I don’t mean beach bunnies or giant amusement parks. This will be about the REAL Florida. Rob is only accepting donations to go to the Pioneer Florida Village in Dade City.

During the UStream broadcast today attendee Terisa Glover announced that the Pez Fairy had just visited her store, The General Store, in Downtown Lakeland. So, I had to work out just what a “Pez Fairy” might look like and do. See above.

Attending the Lake County Festival of Reading in Mount Dora gave the opportunity for Swampy, the Swamp Ape, to meet up with author Tim Dorsey. Above is said encounter.

Below are sketches I made of speakers and authors, Jefferson Bass and James Grippando.

Here’s a sketch of a lady who got comfortable in the auditorium seat.

Later I wandered into the  Truly Scrumptious Bakery and Ice Cream Shop and found a wonderful renovated historic bakery. Look for photos of the interior coming soon on the Swampy’s Florida site.

While broadcasting on UStream today and chatting with folks I decided to do a sketch. Thanks to suggestions by Jason Jones (airboat) and Jared Sloger (lion), I drew the picture above.

Busy day starting with helping out at Fiesta in the Park with a fantastic crew led by Nell Atkins and Bettielee Sansone. Very crowded and lots of ice cream and snow comes sold during the rather warm day. Below is a photo of the crowd at the event.

Later met with old buddy, Ken Culotta, to talk politics and write some editorial cartoon gags. At the top is a sketch of Ken taking in info from an iPhone. Below Ken ponders how best to stage a gag. Agonizing, isn’t it? ….Waitaminute! I think Culotta’s taking a nap!

Since kicking off the Swampy’s Florida website/comic strip/etc started last July, I was hoping to introduce a coloring book. It all came together Friday evening at The General Store in Downtown Lakeland. Co-owner of The General Store, Teresa Glover, put it all together and also contributed a lot to the coloring book. Terisa’s little dog and a Downtown Lakeland icon, Sparky, also stars in the coloring book. Above is a photo of me, the coloring book and Sparky in front of The General Store.

Here’s the cover. If you’d like one, please contact The General Store in Lakeland (863-688-5900). It is currently the exclusive seller of Swampy’s 1st coloring book.

I did

In front of The General Store Friday night I did drawings to help promote the coloring book. The photo above is of me handing a drawing to June, who happens to double as Sparky’s manager (Negotiations with Sparky came down to kibbles and bits). Below is the only photo I took all night. It’s a drawing for one of the coloring book recipients.

I was pretty exhausted Friday night after the night before (See the blog entry before this one). So tired in fact that I did no Facebook or Twitter posts and took only the one photo of artwork above.

Made a trip to pick up the new Swampy’s Florida Lakeland coloring book. Along the way stopped at a Steak ‘n Shake and had a burger and shake with my father and looked over some comics I recently pulled out and took the photo below. Above is a sketch I made there to wrap up the March Sketch-A-Day.

Heading home I stopped for something to drink at a convenience store and came out to a car that wouldn’t start. I quickly called the Allstate roadside help number and waited. This the the third time this has happened since December. The car has been looked at a number of times. Replaced batteries, changed out wires, etc. And here I was again. After a while a car pulled up with a Pop-A-Lock sign on the top. A locksmith with a battery charger had been sent. I was hoping for a bit more… and I got it. The fellow asked what happened. I said I’ll show him. I got in the car and turned the key…and the car started. Was I embarrassed! We stood and discussed the various earlier efforts to fix it in the past and potential causes. The fellow, Julius, figured it out. It’s the starter. It’s missing internal teeth. The car will usually start. BUT if you happen to try and start it when the starter is in a spot of a missing tooth, it won’t start. Now I know the problem. First I have to get through a busy weekend and then next week deal with a bad tooth.